Mallorca Clinches Narrow Victory Against Girona
On December 14, 2024, Mallorca faced Girona at their home ground, Son Moix, winning the La Liga match 2-1. The match marked the 17th round of the Spanish league as Mallorca aimed to break out of a rough patch after suffering consecutive defeats against Barcelona and Celta.
Girona struck first, with Donny van de Beek putting them on the scoreboard just seven minutes after kick-off. After failing to clear Miguel Gutiérrez’s cross, the ball fell to van de Beek, who volleyed it home, setting the tone for the early part of the match.
Despite being behind, Mallorca found their equalizer just 20 minutes later. A swift counter-attack saw Saïl Larin receive the ball from his teammate, running down the right and slipping the ball to Vedat Muriqi, who delivered it back across the penalty area. Larin then capitalized on the loose ball, scoring with ease and exciting the home fans.
The match took another dramatic turn when Muriqi was shown a red card during the 32nd minute for stepping on the foot of Girona's Bryan Hill. Referee Francisco José Fernández deemed Muriqi's challenge overly reckless, leaving Mallorca to fight the remainder of the match with ten men. This incident ramped up the stakes as Mallorca endeavored to hold back Girona's attack.
After the halftime break, Mallorca's resilience turned the tide once again. The Catalan side's goalkeeper, Paulo Gazzaniga, struggled with his distribution, which proved costly. Larin completed another swift move early in the second half, taking advantage of Gazzaniga’s mistake to poke the ball past him and secure his second goal of the match, giving Mallorca the lead at 2-1.
From there on, Girona ramped up their pressure, keeping the ball and probing Mallorca's defense tirelessly. Mallorca's coach, Javier Aguirre, made tactical substitutions to reinforce their defensive stance, bringing on players to fortify their backline as Girona pushed for another goal.
Although Girona had multiple opportunities to find the net through players like Oriol Romeu and Abel Ruiz, they were unable to break through Mallorca’s resilient defense. The home side held their ground, and the final whistle marked their first victory since before the international break, reducing the tension surrounding the squad.
This win placed Mallorca at 27 points, putting them temporarily fifth on the table, showing signs of recovery after their recent two-game losing streak plagued them. Consequently, Girona continued to face challenges, failing to win their last six competitive matches.
Next, Mallorca will travel to face Getafe on December 21, whereas Girona will host Valladolid on December 20, aiming to turn their fortunes around.
"We showed great character, especially after going down to ten men, and the fans were incredible," Larin expressed after the game, emphasizing the importance of the support from the stands.
Despite the absence of Japan's Takuma Asano, who remained on the bench throughout the match, Aguirre's tactics were deemed effective, and the team's spirits lifted as they prepare for the upcoming fixtures.
With this win, Mallorca not only addresses their recent struggles but also keeps their hopes of climbing the league standings alive. Meanwhile, Girona will reflect on their missed chances, hoping to find the right form soon to reverse their current streak.
